Skip to main content

Small Group Behavior Management

Does anyone else have talkative groups during literacy centers? I do not mind at all if my students whisper, but my room is so small that I wouldn't be able to hear the students at my group reading if everyone else was talking in his/her normal speaking voice. This year I have quite the chatty group! All it takes is one to start talking and the rest follow suit.

I've devised a new plan of action that kind of goes along with the "Mystery Person" I've read about out in blogland. I have been using this small magnetic white board that is divided into fourths. One section is for each of my groups.



Every group starts with all four of their colors. If a group is too loud (after one warning) the group will lose their blue magnet. If more than one reminder, they may lose their green, then yellow, etc. Each magnet missing is minutes off of recess or free centers for the day for those group members.

Today, I decided to up the ante. I took four index cards and wrote 1, 2, 3, or 4 on each and folded them in half. Before we started work stations, I explained our new system. I will choose an index card without looking, and place it in the envelope. After work stations are over, I will reveal the "Mystery Group." If the group did not lose their blue during work station time, we all will get five minutes of extra recess or free centers.

The beauty of this is that the students keep each other in check. Also, they have no idea how long you actually planned on staying out at recess, so five extra minutes seems like gold to them. It's a win/win situation.
Labels:

Comments

Kathleen said…
This is a GREAT idea, Christy! I have a very chatty group this year too! I think I might have to try it out!! Thanks for the tip!
Kathleen
growingkinders.blogspot.com
March 20, 2011 at 9:41 PM
Kristin said…
STEALING THIS!!!!!!! :) Thanks for sharing!
Kristin
A Teeny Tiny Teacher
July 18, 2011 at 9:37 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

These are a few of my favorite things...

Lil' Country Kindergarten is having a Linky Party. The subject? My teaching wouldn't be the same without... #1 Music, but most importantly music by Mr. Al . Some of my friends and I were lucky enough to attend a Mr. Al conference earlier this year. I just love his music, enthusiasm, and creativity. Some of our favorites include Please Stand Up, Funky Backwards Alphabet, and Rockin' the Alphabet. #2 Expo dry erase markers...the big pack with all the colors. Having all the colors available is handy when drawing pictures on the whiteboard. I also really love TUL low odor dry erase markers. They are magnetic on one side and stay attached to the whiteboard. I find these markers at my local Office Max. I can not find these exact markers on their website, unfortunately. #3 The Royal Reading & Writing Center from Really Good Stuff. This thing has it all: magnetic dry erase board, storage tubs, pencil/marker storage, removable dry erase board with lines, big book st...
2 comments
Read more

Individual Behavior Management

I think I've mentioned before that my room is small. I'm not exagerrating, it's really tiny . I'm going to have to measure it one day, but I'm a little scared to see the actual digits. Everyone is familiar with the "clip" behavior system. As with anything, I have to take a great idea and modify it to fit my needs and up the cuteness factor a little, Yes, it is posted on the back door of my classroom. I cut the tree trunk out of plain brown construction paper. The parts of the tree are just pieces of circular scrapbook paper. The wooden squirrels were purchased at Michael's. I had to travel to three different Michael's this past summer to get the number I needed. The squirrels are a seasonal item from Summer 2010. I just hot glued a magnet on the back of each. The yellow and red signs are car magnets that I made at VistaPrint. Another handy tip-I wanted to be able to reuse the squirrels if I tired of them on my behavior chart. I used my l...
2 comments
Read more

Writing Prompts

Ever wonder, "What am I going to do with all these old stickers. Who is ever going to want a sticker of a hot dog?" This one is so simple, but it's a "Why didn't I think of that before" facepalm. I'm using all those old, non-sought after stickers in my kindergarteners daily writing journals. We give a district-wide writing test in May. My students are expected to write one sentence to address the prompt. Reaching for the moon, we are all writing 3-4 sentences, and it's only March. I'm so proud of my little writers! The stickers serve as their prompt to practice for the district test.
1 comment
Read more